Tina, I use pine straw for everything. Flower beds, paths, and the veggie garden. It keeps the soil from splashing up on the plants and causing fungus and diseases and helps to keep moisture in the soil.

Thanks Natal. I knew the purpose, but wasn't sure about using it around all veggies since it adds more acid to the soil that some type mulches. Here where we have so many acid loving flowers, it's great, just wasn't sure it was okay for veggies. But if you've used it with success - we're going for it!

Thanks - tina

OMG, Tina, wish you could come over & take my pine needles away! I rake daily between May & November. I'm surrounded by pine trees & toss out countless big bags of pine straw weekly! You'd be so welcome to them.

Thanks stinky!! We have done that before - my aunt, now deceased, was in the same situation as you. She lived in another state but would fill huge yard bags with pine needles for us. I loved it! The pine needles were so much softer than what is formed into the bales.

I did do a little research on-line and found that pine straw/needles are just fine for veggies, but need to be careful of overuse (years worth) due to making the soil too acidic. However, we use layers of compost before mulching, so I think we'll be okay. At least for a few years! I also read that we should not put pine straw over a seeded area (such as our okra), something in it can prevent germination. So, we'll mulch that area once we have okra plants.

So happy to be getting the garden in! Hubby should be getting the pine straw finished in the landscaped areas this week. He has put his foot down about me helping with the mulching due to my mold allergies. It's possible/likely there are mold spores in the pine straw. Oh well, after all the squatting, weeding, squatting, planting, squatting, cleaning, did I mention SQUATTING??? (OUCH) last week, I am fine with giving up mulching duty. LOL

May I ask where you're located Stinky?

tina

Our soil is also acidic. At one time we had 10 pines along the rear property line. I've had a veggie garden for 24 years and have always used pine straw. Never had a problem. I do add compost to the beds every season before planting. An open layer of pine straw works fine over seeds that need light for germination like lettuce, basil, and cosmos.

Sure, Tina! I'm in Southeastern VA. Virginia Beach, to be exact!

I have acidic soil too, & while I don't grow veggies, it's also great for the azaleas, camellias & gardenias on our property.

Good luck with your veggie garden. It sounds marvelous. I'll trade ya pine needles for okra any day of the week!

Btw,"all the squatting, weeding, squatting, planting, squatting, cleaning, did I mention SQUATTING???" sure sounds familiar!!

hoo boy stinky - those are definitely some muscles I don't use often enough LOL!! I figured you must be a fellow southerner!

Natal - the okra is the only thing that will be seeds (sown into the ground). We do a small garden - I don't do lettuce or any cool season veggies. Herbs and other veggies have already been started from seed inside. Love this time of year!!

"OMG, Tina, wish you could come over & take my pine needles away! I rake daily between May & November. I'm surrounded by pine trees & toss out countless big bags of pine straw weekly! You'd be so welcome to them."

Parma...sobbing...;(

Parma, you're welcome to them too! Chicago is a little far from here, but if you're ever in the neighborhood, stop over!

Just wanted to follow-up on the pine straw acidity issue. I recently performed some testing and found it actually provides the correct acidity for almost all plants. I published an article with my results. You can read it here: http://www.pinestrawinfo.com/PineStrawMulchAcidity-SeparatingFactFromFictionThroughAnalyticalTesting.pdf If you don't want to read the whole thing, there is a good summary on page 4. It is such a great mulch, I didn't want anyone to shy away from using it based on incorrect info.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pine Straw Info website

Love pine straw over here!! We used to buy it at Lowes ($$) until we found a gentleman with trees that lets us get his pine straw. If you find a property, take your blower with you instead of raking - takes 3 seconds to make a pile vs. raking!! I just put in 4 truck loads around my property.

Your garden sounds wonderful. Coming to your house for some good soul cooking for all those veggies! Fried okra, greens, fried tomatoes....yum!

Smiles:)

We live in Ga. & don't have much yard so was going to plant, tomatoes,g/peppers, squash & cucumber next to my house & put pine straw around them. But it doesn't get but the morning sun will they live?